Public Health Alerts

Two Cases of Measles in Outaouais Residents

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Travel Clinics, Walk-in Clinics, Emergency Departments and CHCs
Date: October 13, 2023
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Two Cases of Measles in Outaouais Residents

Two cases of measles in Outaouais residents have been confirmed. Both cases are linked to international travel and went directly to hospital upon their return to Canada.

Ottawa Public health is directly contacting any Ottawa residents who were exposed to the cases....

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Ordering of Rapid Antigen Tests & Resources for COVID-19 Antivirals

To:       Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, CHCs, Emergency Departments, Travel Clinics, Walk-in Clinics
Date:    Tuesday, October 11, 2023
From:   Dr. Laura Bourns (Associate Medical Officer of Health)

Dear Colleagues: 

Please find attached a memo from Ministry of Health: ‘Update on the Distribution of Rapid Antigen Tests in Ontario under the Provincial Antigen Screening Program’(available in English only). 

To support ongoing access to COVID-19 testing and therapeutics through the Fall/ Winter respiratory...

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Update on Fall 2023 COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: October 5, 2023
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Update on Fall 2023 COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations in Ottawa

Dear Colleagues,

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has received a limited supply of Moderna XBB 1.5 and has begun distributing initial doses to Hospitals and Long-Term Care Homes, as per Provincial direction.

OPH is planning to distribute XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine products to community COVID-19...

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Eastern equine encephalitis virus in horses in Ottawa – ongoing activity

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Emergency Departments
Date: September 20, 2023
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has received veterinarian notification of ongoing eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) activity in horses in Ottawa, particularly in the eastern parts. No human cases of EEE have been reported. OPH previously communicated about EEE on August 17, 2023, and this Public Health Alert is to serve as a reminder of...

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Hepatitis B vaccination for infants born to a mother with acute or chronic hepatitis B infection

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, Travel Clinics and Walk-in Clinics, and Infection Control

Date: August 15, 2023

From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,

COVID-19 pandemic disruptions to routine healthcare services have resulted in some infants born to mothers with acute or chronic hepatitis B infection (positive for HBsAg) not completing the recommended vaccine series against hepatitis B. It is critically important that these infants complete...

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